Asphalt concrete is one of the most common road surfaces since it was first used in the 1920s. These road surfaces are often used for surfaces with high volumes of traffic (normally about 1200 vehicles a day or more).

These roads are asphalt concrete and as such represent arterial roads. During any war these arterial roads become vital for the movement of materiel and manpower and as such most engagements include or are at the end of a modern road.